whymeohgodno wrote:Just noticed lawschoolpredictor gave me a weaker index number for UT than Cornell. Doesn't UT have lower medians for both LSAT/GPA? Weird.

Does it account for OOS? I think that affects UT more than any other law school.

Maybe. Is OOS that big of a disadvantage? I have numbers above both medians so I thought UT was a strong target.

Or maybe UT has higher 75th percentile for both LSAT/GPA than Cornell?

I've heard conflicting reports about this. It was always my assumption that our OOS medians would be higher since the school is limited to 35% OOS matriculants. Because there are fewer spots for OOS, I figured the school could be more selective. However, someone recently suggested that Dean Ingram stated the exact reverse; that is, the OOS medians are ostensibly lower than IS because UT gets a large majority of its applications from IS applicants. Thus, they have a far larger pool of IS applicants, and perhaps they can grab a lot of high numbers from that large pool.

I still feel like it's easier to get in if you're from Texas, but obviously, I don't have any inside information.

Edit: Now that I think about it, UT might be able to keep IS applicants with high numbers by giving them scholarships, which are tremendous when combined with UT's low COA with IS tuition.

txlaw wrote:Just got an email that I'm being held for regular decision. Is there anything I can do at this point to help my chances? UT is the only school I want to attend. Should I write a "why UT" letter or would that just annoy the admissions comittee? Also, If I get a legal job before they make a decision should I update them about it? Thanks in advance for any advice, I'm totally stressing out about this.

Yes to all questions. Next.

adcomms would accept additional documents? i may start working on a Why Texas statement then. if i do write one, where would i send it to?

whymeohgodno wrote:Just noticed lawschoolpredictor gave me a weaker index number for UT than Cornell. Doesn't UT have lower medians for both LSAT/GPA? Weird.

Does it account for OOS? I think that affects UT more than any other law school.

Maybe. Is OOS that big of a disadvantage? I have numbers above both medians so I thought UT was a strong target.

Or maybe UT has higher 75th percentile for both LSAT/GPA than Cornell?

I've heard conflicting reports about this. It was always my assumption that our OOS medians would be higher since the school is limited to 35% OOS matriculants. Because there are fewer spots for OOS, I figured the school could be more selective. However, someone recently suggested that Dean Ingram stated the exact reverse; that is, the OOS medians are ostensibly lower than IS because UT gets a large majority of its applications from IS applicants. Thus, they have a far larger pool of IS applicants, and perhaps they can grab a lot of high numbers from that large pool.

I still feel like it's easier to get in if you're from Texas, but obviously, I don't have any inside information.

Edit: Now that I think about it, UT might be able to keep IS applicants with high numbers by giving them scholarships, which are tremendous when combined with UT's low COA with IS tuition.

Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

Sigh...More signs pointing to a retake and waiting a cycle...

What? I though you had T14 numbers? Why are you so bent on UT? Go to Vandy!

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

Is that based on anecdotal evidence? Compared to last year, the LSN graph definitely looks a bit different at this point in the cycle. I'm just curious if they announced that they are making a big push to raise medians (or however you came to that conclusion).

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

Sigh...More signs pointing to a retake and waiting a cycle...

What? I though you had T14 numbers? Why are you so bent on UT? Go to Vandy!

Tennesse scares me. Also my LSAT is below Vandy's new median. Also I hear Austin is nice.

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

Is that based on anecdotal evidence? Compared to last year, the LSN graph definitely looks a bit different at this point in the cycle. I'm just curious if they announced that they are making a big push to raise medians (or however you came to that conclusion).

I went to ASW a couple years ago, and Dean Sager openly admitted that his plans for the school were partially motivated by a desire to move up the rankings.

At that time, UT had just jumped up to #15, so there was some excitement regarding the rankings and speculation about whether UT could climb into the T14. Plus, UT threw around a lot of scholarship money that year, and they've been hiring faculty members from higher-ranked schools. I also know of a professor who failed to tenure, and he/she left UT, so I think the administration is serious about improving UT from year to year. In addition, the class size has been slowly shrinking. There were 385 in my class, and the following class was slightly smaller. The rumor is that they want to get that down to 350 to improve the student to faculty ratio. The entire writing curriculum has been revamped.

My impression is that UT is on the rise. The only real drawback is that the facilities are a bit old. I personally don't mind that because the in-state tuition is so reasonable, but the law school and library are too old and in desperate need of a renovation. To be fair, the library renovation is underway, but I won't be around to reap the benefit of it, so I'm a little disgruntled that I've had to endure the construction.

whymeohgodno wrote:Did Dean Ingram actually state that? Or is that just rumor and speculation?

I haven't read it myself, but the interview is here on TLS somewhere. I'm too lazy to look it up because I already sneaked in before the numbers started climbing. It's getting pretty damn tough to get into UT these days.

Is that based on anecdotal evidence? Compared to last year, the LSN graph definitely looks a bit different at this point in the cycle. I'm just curious if they announced that they are making a big push to raise medians (or however you came to that conclusion).

I went to ASW a couple years ago, and Dean Sager openly admitted that his plans for the school were partially motivated by a desire to move up the rankings.

At that time, UT had just jumped up to #15, so there was some excitement regarding the rankings and speculation about whether UT could climb into the T14. Plus, UT threw around a lot of scholarship money that year, and they've been hiring faculty members from higher-ranked schools. I also know of a professor who failed to tenure, and he/she left UT, so I think the administration is serious about improving UT from year to year. In addition, the class size has been slowly shrinking. There were 385 in my class, and the following class was slightly smaller. The rumor is that they want to get that down to 350 to improve the student to faculty ratio. The entire writing curriculum has been revamped.

My impression is that UT is on the rise. The only real drawback is that the facilities are a bit old. I personally don't mind that because the in-state tuition is so reasonable, but the law school and library are too old and in desperate need of a renovation. To be fair, the library renovation is underway, but I won't be around to reap the benefit of it, so I'm a little disgruntled that I've had to endure the construction.

Thanks for the info!

I just took a tour this weekend and I was surprised at how out of date the facilities looked (compared to other schools I visited). However, in-state tuition (as an out of stater) would certainly take my mind off the 1970s wood paneling!

I just took a tour this weekend and I was surprised at how out of date the facilities looked (compared to other schools I visited). However, in-state tuition (as an out of stater) would certainly take my mind off the 1970s wood paneling!

Did you see the new part of the library? The renovation is actually pretty impressive, but like I mentioned above, I'm bitter.

The Real Jack McCoy wrote:The rest of the campus is beautiful though (except for things like the main library, endearingly constructed in the shape of Texas). It is really the law school facilities that are quite dated.

Meh, there are some cool things on campus, but I wouldn't say it is really beautiful. SMU is far more picturesque. I hate how the major roads run right through campus. Constant traffic is not really pretty either.

Edit: I'm not dogging the school. I love UT. Just calling it like I see it.

I just took a tour this weekend and I was surprised at how out of date the facilities looked (compared to other schools I visited). However, in-state tuition (as an out of stater) would certainly take my mind off the 1970s wood paneling!

Did you see the new part of the library? The renovation is actually pretty impressive, but like I mentioned above, I'm bitter.

Unfortunately, my tour guide only showed me the first floor of the library. However, the admissions office gave me a recent copy of UT Law Magazine that had mock ups of what the library will look like once it is completed. Very nice indeed.

The Real Jack McCoy wrote:The rest of the campus is beautiful though (except for things like the main library, endearingly constructed in the shape of Texas). It is really the law school facilities that are quite dated.

Meh, there are some cool things on campus, but I wouldn't say it is really beautiful. SMU is far more picturesque. I hate how the major roads run right through campus. Constant traffic is not really pretty either.

Edit: I'm not dogging the school. I love UT. Just calling it like I see it.

"Rest of" campus is definitely an overstatement. Some areas are great, others are hideous. I probably like the general style more than most, but I'll concede there are large swaths of campus that are less than ideal.